Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and CG Foods Nepal Pvt Ltd today renewed the sponsorship deal of the U-19 tournament for the next five years.

CAN President Tanka Angbuhang and Managing Director of Chaudhary Group Nirvana Chaudhary signed the Memorandum of Understanding. General Manager (GM) of Chaudhary Group Sajan Devkota, Assistant GM Lal Babu Prasad and CAN General Secretary Ashok Nath Pyakurel were also present on the occasion. As per the agreement, CG Foods will provide CAN with Rs 21 million over the next five years to conduct Wai Wai U-19 tournaments.

The sponsors will provide Rs 1.8 million annually to conduct boys’ tournament and Rs 900,000 per year for the girls’ events. Apart from that, the sponsors will also provide Rs 1.5 million in kind — T-shirts, trophies, medals and certificates in the regional as well as national tournaments. Wai Wai, a product of Chaudhary Group, has been sponsoring the U-19 cricket since 2005. Chaudhary said his Group was delighted to be a part of Nepali cricket. “CAN has been doing phenomenal job in pushing cricket upwards and we hope to contribute in their efforts in the days to come as well,” he said. Recalling the early days of their sponsorship to Nepali cricket, Chaudhary said they invested in age-group tournament with great hope. “Cricket was not that popular game when we started sponsoring the U-19 tournament. We wanted to motivate young talents so that they could do well at the senior level,” said Chaudhary. Describing the deal with Chaudhary Group as a new milestone, CAN President Angbuhang argued Nepal was able to compete against neighbouring nations in game. “We may lag far behind in other sectors but cricket has been able to give competition to other nations in the region,” he said.

National Sports Council Member Secretary Yuvraj Lama urged Chaudhary Group to invest in other sports as well. “It will inspire other corporate houses to come forward to invest in sports apart from adding enthusiasm to the sports lovers,” said Lama. Referring to Nepal’s achievement in the ICC World Cricket League Division-IV Tournament, CAN General Secretary Pyakurel said Nepal was capable of achieving similar successes in future with the help of corporate houses like Chaudhary Group.